Thursday, January 27, 2011

Our spa is AMAZING.. even with the few hiccups we've had, I love it! We want our guest to be cozy warm so we went to Goodwill, serached for warm soft robes, and found these treasures. I feel so accomplished with our three robes at the mere cost of $12.00!

Sunday, January 23, 2011

As a mom of four I really appreciated having trustworthy babysitters. I got advice from other moms to understand what I should expect from the girls who took care of my most prized treasure. I set my standards and found girls I trust. T and I knew the importance of dating and setting an example for our kids of a healthy marriage.

So as our girls grew up and started babysitting themselves we had a few rules.

1. The mom would bring our daughter home from the job.2. The dad could bring our daughter home IF there was someone else in the car.3. Our daughters would not set a wage.

Let's focus on number 3.

The question always goes,"So, what do you charge?" Our answer is always, "Pay what you can."

This drives some families crazy so we go on to explain why. So here's my soap box.

Your marriage is very important. One day my girls will need a babysitter they can trust and may not have the "going rate" to pay someone. We look at this as an opportunity to bless you. Pay what you can and DON'T overpay. They will one day need the same blessing.

Let me say.. I have made my girls take money back before. You heard me, back. I am appalled when I hear how much some babysitters charge. It free money, no taxes taken and usually not a hard job. Now granted, some families can afford more than others but let's be real. Everyone NEEDS a night out with their husband or wife. If young girls are charging a fortune it really robs the couple of the blessing.

I spoke to a sweet mom today about life, kids, and marriage. After a few minutes I asked, "Do you guys date?" She said,"No, not really. Trying to find someone we can afford for all our kids is tough." I immediately told her to call my daughter.

I can not tell you how many moms I know with little ones who pay WAY too much for babysitting or can't go at all.

Makes me sad.

If you have a daughter who is of babysitting age, for goodness sakes, teach her, no... show her the blessing of dating and the importance of blessing others. Go on dates with your main squeeze and then when she is ready to babysit instill in her the ministry of babysitting.

We have a family verse we live by, chosen many years ago when our kids were tiny. I think it sets an example to our kids in all aspects of life..including the ministry of babysitting.

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.Okay, I'll climb down now.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

No pictures, please. I don't think you'd like how I look right now anyhow. I sit here or I sit there. Blankets abound. I drink water or a concoction of apple cider vinegar and water. I surf the web. I take Tums. I eat a banana or a piece of toast... and wait. Just hoping there isn't any pain or nausea associated with the ingestion of food. I watch everyone around me work, feeling really bad I'm not doing my part. And still I sit.... my stomach speaking loudly that the virus isn't gone. Indigestion roaring up constantly. I'm feeling done already. For goodness sakes, it's just a virus. But this one is an energy zapping, stomach churning, pain causing, nausea making, ugly virus.

Monday, January 17, 2011

I don't get sick very often. I have aches and pains that drive me crazy but getting ill.. nah, hardly ever.

11:30pm: Gabe calls to discuss a matter forgetting I was in bed. Time change doesn't seem to always register with any of us.

11:45pm: Great. I feel it comin' on. Toss and turn, toss and turn, hold the belly as it writhes in pain. Yep. I got it.

12:00am: Grab my pillow and announce to my sweet sleeping husband I'm sick and going downstairs to the couch. No reason to keep him up all night.

I grab soft blankies, the type you want to feel next to your skin, and soft sheets, make up the couch bed for myself, hug my pillow and wait. Didn't have to wait long.

Thoughts during the night: "Oh poor Lina. She had this and had to travel 12 hours in a car. Oh goodness, we won't be having dinner with Rob and Jo now. Ugh. I gotta cancel my work meeting. Dang, does every joint in my body have to ache all at once. Wow.. Cathi dealt with this for how many months from treatment? God bless her. Oh! Maybe I'll lose the Christmas weight I gained."

Yes, all these thoughts while trying to sleep or see my way to the bathroom. Who knew so many thoughts could run through one's mind while hugging the toilet bowl?

Tomorrow proves to be another day. Go away virus, I have a life to live.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

For Christmas the family got a DDR. Not such a big hit as it was when they we 8 ...back it went. Best Buy, in their policy making ways, gave me a gift card. This fair customer was not so happy. And yes, I told them so. So what did we get with it? A freezer. Okay, some of a freezer.

Two weeks later... "Hey Mom, are we getting another game to replace the DDR?" Me: "Umm, no, we got a freezer." Long stare.

So being the mom I am, I went onto Amazon and searched for Just Dance 2, a big hit for my girls at other people's houses. Score..... I am THE mom once again.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

My kids are all creative. One makes bumpers. One crochets scarves in a weekend. One does water colors. One makes a box into a masterpiece.

I believe in technology; there is a place for it. But when it comes to using your brain to create something has to be said about old school no nonsense creativity.

I lack any creative juices, none, zero, but knew how important it was for my kids so I allowed as a part of their day growing up a time just to think, create, and discover. It's one of the beauties of homeschooling. No TV. No distractions, just time to be still and create. Some of my kids would read. Some would do K-nexs. Some would draw. All would create.

Why don't more adults do this? Why don't we stop long enough, step away from all the technology were driven by daily and be quiet. Think, read, create.

Reality Check:

What can you do this week to create? Now instead of thinking about it, go do it!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Time sure flies! I know, everyone says that, especially THE older folks. But it's true! Becca went off to her spring semester at WWU last night. She packed up the house, uh.. I mean her luggage and fishy and food and we drove her to Calhan to fetch a ride. She is so fun to have around and the house just feels different now. I'm sure her sisters sense it too. Each child brings something to the table. With my four there is a distinct awareness when they are gone. I guess I'll start setting four place settings this week. Sniff sniff. On the bright side... she is doing awesome at WWU!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

230 lbs of goodness. No hormones, no junk, just good farm raised beef. We couldn't even get it all in this freezer there is so much. I am so excited to be on the journey of good food for my family. I have milk from a dairy, eggs from a farm, now beef. All that's left is to find chickens. I am making progress!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Girls decorate, blog, paint, walk and TALK, play Bunco, and of course, shop. Boys...now they off-road, bike, talk football, do the girls Honey-Do's, work really REALLY hard for the girls shopping, decorating and general well being of the family.... and some boys, some boys make bumpers. At least mine does.

My husband loves his truck. Actually, we all do. It's tough, rugged, and an overall tank. Here in Colorado Landcruisers are as popular as milk and cookies. This man of mine has plans for his 97 Cruiser. New stereo: check. Bumper: in progress. Amazing friend who also has a Cruiser and LOVES truck stuff as much as mine: check.

These men love this truck stuff so much they were in sub zero temperatures, for reals, BelowZero this week welding, measuring and installing. Gotta love determined men.

Jenna Bug came Colorado this week in a last minute "Gotta Get Away" trip. We loved having her! It's been a while since we've all seen Jen and the cousins were ready for some fun times. They hiked, laughed, had a LOTR marathon, played in the snow, laughed some more and went to Denver for a night. It was wonderful! I'm so very glad she came to our humble abode. Just wishin' she was closer than a 2 hour flight.